2011 12 Scribe.pub

Future Events: Sisterhood Game Night Jan 17
School Conferences
Jan 29
December 2011 5 Kislev 5772 - 5 Teves 5772
Sunday
4
Monday
Office Closed:
Hours will vary
Dec 26 - Jan 6
8 KISLEV
5
9 KISLEV
Tuesday
Wednesday
1
11
5 KISLEV
7 pm Hebrew Newspaper
10 KISLEV
6
Latke deadline
7:15 am Adult Hebrew
9:30 am Adult Hebrew
9:30 am School
10:30 am Adult Hebrew
Gift Shop open
15 KISLEV
Thursday
7
11 KISLEV
8
12 KISLEV
7 pm Hebrew Newspaper
4:30 pm School
Friday
2
Saturday
6 KISLEV
4:00
8 pm Service
Oneg: Manzano-Nicol
9
13 KISLEV
12
13
17 KISLEV
Scrip order, Gift Shop open
7:15 am Adult Hebrew
9:30 am Adult Hebrew
14
18 KISLEV
15
19 KISLEV
7 pm Hebrew Newspaper
4:30 pm School
16
20 KISLEV
Focus Group meeting after
Panel Discussion
10:30 am Adult Hebrew
Vayeitzei
9 am Traditional Service
10
14 KISLEV
9 am Traditional Service
10:30 am Egalitarian Serv
17
21 KISLEV
Vayeishev
4:00
7 pm Service - Special
Time
9:30 am School
7 KISLEV
Vayishlach
3:59
6:30 pm Family Service
Shabbat Dinner follows
limited to 50
Oneg: D + C Raymond
16 KISLEV
3
9 am Traditional Service
10:30 am Renewal Serv. Chanukah Service
Oneg: Richele Volkmar
2:00 pm Brd Directors Retreat
18
22 KISLEV
19
23 KISLEV
Adult Hebrew make-up?
9:30 am School
20
24 KISLEV
6:15 pm Hadassah
Pot Luck
Chanukah Party
21
25 KISLEV
Chanukah - Day 1
No School
22
26 KISLEV
Chanukah - Day 2
7 pm Hebrew Newspaper
at Rhoda Melnicoff's
Gift Shop open
25
29 KISLEV
Chanukah - Day 5
Christmas Day
No School
26
30 KISLEV
Chanukah - Day 6
Rosh Chodesh Teves - Day 1
27
1 TEVES
Chanukah - Day 7
Rosh Chodesh Teves - Day 2
28
2 TEVES
Chanukah - Day 8
No School
No Meetings tonight
29
3 TEVES
7 pm Hebrew Newspaper
23
27 KISLEV
Chanukah - Day 3
4:04
7 pm Service
30
4:08
7 pm Service
4 TEVES
24
28 KISLEV
Chanukah - Day 4
Mikeitz
9 am Traditional Service
31
5 TEVES
Vayigash
9 am Traditional Service
Shabbat Dinner at
Temple B'nai Israel!
The Sisterhood of Temple B’nai Israel
cordially invite you and your family
to join us for Friday night Services, led by Rabbi Mann,
followed by a delicious Shabbat dinner!
When:
Cost:
Friday, December 09, 2011
6:30 pm service followed by dinner at around 7 pm
$6 per person, $20 for an immediate family
Make reservations (maximum of 50 people) with the office at
630/892-2450, by December 5, 2011
Note: maximum of 50 people
Temple B'nai Israel 400 N. Edgelawn Drive, Aurora IL 60506-4394
TEMPLE B'NAI ISRAEL Scrip Program
Order Deadline: SUNDAY, DECEMBER 11
Grocery store certificates are available ALL month through the Temple
office. For additional retailers or information, please check out
http://www.glscrip.com/retailerlist
NAME:
PHONE NUMBER:
Temple B'nai Israel earns 4% on ALL TRAVEL. Call the office for details.
WOODMAN'S NOW TAKES THEIR CARDS FOR GAS PURCHASES!! :)
Auto & Gas
Advance Auto Parts
7%
Auto Zone
Dining (continued)
x $25 = $
Fazoli's
Great Harvest Bread Co
8%
x $25 = $
BP Gas
1.5%
x $50/$100 $
Exxon/Mobil
1.5%
x $50 = $
Pep Boys
4%
x $20 = $
Sears Auto Service
4%
x $25/$100 $
Shell
2.5%
Speedway
4%
8%
x $10 = $
8%
x $10 = $
TGI Friday's
9%
x $25 = $
10%
x $25 = $
Texas Roadhouse
8%
x $25 = $
Honey Baked Ham
12%
x $10 = $
Wendy's
4%
x $10 = $
Wildfire
12%
x $25 = $
8%
x $25 = $
7%
x $10 = $
x $25 = $
KFC
8%
x $5 = $
x $50 = $
Lettuce Entertain You 12%
x $25 = $
x $25 = $
x $25 = $
Grocery Stores
Dominick's
4%
x $25 = $
x $100 = $
Little Caesar's Pizza
8%
x $20 = $
GFS (Gordon Food Service)
4%
x $25/$100 $
Lou Malnati's
8%
x $10 = $
Jewel (and Osco)
4%
x $25 = $
Macaroni Grill
9%
x $25 = $
Maggiano's Little Italy
9%
x $25 = $
8%
x $10 = $
Noodles & Company
Bahama Breeze
9%
x $25 = $
O'Charley's
Baskin Robbins
9%
x $2 = $
bd's Mongolian Grill
8%
x $20 = $
12%
Big Fish
3%
Hard Rock Café
Arby's
Big Bowl
Taco Bell (IL, TX only)
IHOP
Dining
Applebee's
x $25 = $
Jamba Juice
x $100 = $
Dining (continued)
7%
8%
x $10 = $
13%
x $25 = $
Old Country Buffet
5%
x $25 = $
Olive Garden
9%
x $25 = $
x $25 = $
On The Border
8%
x $25 = $
9%
x $25 = $
Outback Steakhouse
8%
x $25 = $
Bob Evans
10%
x $10 = $
PF Chang's
8%
x $25 = $
Boston Market
12%
x $10 = $
Panera Bread
9%
x $10 = $
Buca Di Beppo
8%
x $25 = $
x $25 = $
x $100 = $
Meijer
3%
x $25 = $
x $100 = $
Prisco's
5%
x $25 = $
x $100 = $
Whole Foods
3%
x $25 = $
x $100 = $
Woodman's
5%
x $50 = $
x $100 = $
Lodging & Travel
American Airlines
8% x $100/$250 $
Burger King
4%
x $10 = $
Papa John's
8%
x $10 = $
Avis Car Rental
8%
x $50 = $
California Pizza Kitchen
4%
x $10 = $
Pizza Hut
8%
x $10 = $
BedandBreakfast.com 10%
x $50 = $
Carrabba's Italian Grill 8%
x $25 = $
Qboda Mexican Grill
Champps Americana
x $25 = $
Quiznos
8%
7%
x $25 = $
Best Western Int'l
12%
x $25/$100 $
10%
x $10 = $
Budget Rental Car
8%
x $50 = $
Cheesecake Factory
5%
x $25 = $
Rainforest Café
9%
x $25 = $
Carnival Cruises (NOT
8%
x $100 = $
Chevy's Fresh Mex Restaura
9%
x $25 = $
Red Lobster
9%
x $25 = $
Celebrity Cruise Lines
9%
x $100 = $
Chili's Grill & Bar
on board)
9%
x $25 = $
Red Robin
9%
x $25 = $
Courtyard (Marriott)
8%
x $50/$100 $
10%
x $10 = $
Rock Bottom Restaurant
6%
x $25 = $
Fairfield Inn (Marriott) 8%
x $50/$100 $
8%
x $10 = $
Ruby Tuesday’s
8%
x $25 = $
Grand Geneva Resort Lake Geneva, WI (Marcus)
Cracker Barrel
9%
x $10 = $
St. Louis Bread Co.
9%
x $10/$25 $
Dave & Busters
13%
x $25 = $
Starbucks
7%
x $10 = $
Denny's
7%
x $10 = $
x $25 = $
Marriott Hotels
Domino's Pizza
8%
x $10 = $
Steak n' Shake
8%
x $10 = $
Ritz-Carlton Hotels
x $10 = $
Timber Ridge Lodge Lake Geneva, WI
Chipotle
Chuck E. Cheese
Dunkin Donuts
Einstein Bros. Bagel
4%
x $10 = $
10%
x $10 = $
Column Total $
Subway
3%
9%
x $25 = $
Hyatt Hotels
9%
x $50/$100 $
Marcus Resorts
9%
x $25 = $
8%
x $50/$100 $
12%
x $50 = $
9%
x $25 = $
x $50 = $
Sweet Tomatoes
8%
Column Total $
Questions? Contact Susan Leader
Column Total $
x $25 = $
RETAIL STORES, ETC. 
PAGE 1 of 2
Participating retailers and discounts are subject to change. Visit www.glscrip.com for a complete list.
FAMILY & FRIENDS ARE WELCOME TO ORDER. PASS THE WORD!!
This is only a partial, nationwide list. Check out www.glscrip.com for the complete list.
Retail Stores & Services
AJ Wright
7%
x $25 $
Ace Hardware
4%
x $25 $
Aeropostale
7%
American Eagle Outfitters
Babies-R-Us
Retail Stores & Services (continued)
Home Depot
4%
x $25 = $
x $25 $
HomeGoods
7%
x $25 = $
10%
x $25 $
JCPenney
5%
x $25/$100 $
1.5%
x $20 $
Jiffy Lube
8%
x $30 = $
x $100/$1000 = $
Banana Republic
9%
x $25 $
Jo-Ann Fabrics
6%
x $20 = $
Barnes & Noble Bookstores
9%
x $10 = $
K Mart
4%
x $25/$50 $
x $25 = $
Kohl's
4%
Bass Pro Shops
9%
x $25/$100 $
Bath & Body Works
13%
x $10 = $
L.L. Bean
15%
x $25/$100 $
Lands' End
16%
x $25/$100 $
Bed Bath & Beyond
7%
x $25/$100 $
3%
x $25 = $
x $100 = $
T.J. Maxx
Talbot's
Target
Toys-R-Us
5%
x $25/$100 $
7%
x $25/$100 $
13%
x $25 = $
2%
x $25/$100 $
1.5%
x $20 = $
Ulta Salon
4%
x $25 = $
Walden Books
9%
x $10/$25 $
WalMart
2%
x $100 = $
x $25 = $
Best Buy
x $25 = $
x $100 = $
Walgreens
6%
x $25 = $
x $100 = $
Lane Bryant
6%
x $25 = $
White Barn Candle Co 13%
x $10/$25 $
Limited
9%
x $25 = $
Williams-Sonoma
x $10/$25 $
Lord & Taylor
8%
x $25 = $
Lowe's Home Improvement
4%
Body Shop
8%
x $25 = $
Build-A-Bear Workshop
8%
x $25 = $
Burlington Coat Factory
8%
x $25 = $
MC Sports
Buy Buy Baby
7%
x $25 = $
Macy's
CVS/Pharmacy
x $25 = $
Retail Stores & Services (continued)
Staples
x $20 = $
x $25/$100 = $
8%
Other Scrip Providers
Amazon.com
AT&T 125+ minute card
4%
x $25/$100 $
20%
x $9.50 = $
8%
x $25 = $
Cinemark Tinseltown
4%
x $25 = $
10%
x $25/$100 $
Cineplex Odeon
7%
x $25 = $
6%
x $25/$100 $
Marshalls
7%
x $25/$100 $
Goodrich Theaters
11%
x $25/$100 $
Menards Home Center 3%
x $25/$100 $
Groupon.com
Carson Pirie Scott
8%
x $25 = $
Men's Wearhouse
8%
x $25 = $
Casual Male XL
9%
x $25 = $
Michaels
4%
x $25 = $
Children's Place
12%
x $25 = $
Motherhood Maternity
8%
x $25 = $
Marcus Theatres
9%
x $25/$100 $
9%
x $10 = $
Neiman Marcus (not for 12%
credit card pymts)
x $50 = $
Overstock.com
8%
x $25 = $
Cabela's
Claire's
Container Store, The
9%
x $25 = $
Crate and Barrel
8%
x $25/$100 $
Dennis Uniform
5%
x $20 = $
Nike
iTunes
x $25 = $
x $25 = $
Regal Entertainment
8%
x $25 = $
x $25/$100 $
Shutterfly
9%
x $25 = $
Office Max
5%
x $25/$100 $
Zappos.com (online only)
8%
x $25 = $
8%
x $25/$100 $
Old Navy
x $25/$100 $
Payless Shoes
9%
x $25 = $
13%
x $20 = $
Dots
12%
x $25 = $
PetSmart
4%
x $25 = $
Express
10%
x $25 = $
Pier 1 Imports
9%
x $25 = $
Column Total $
Log on at www.glscrip.com for a complete
list of nationwide retailers. List additional
retailers to add to your order.
9%
x $25 = $
Pottery Barn/Pottery Barn K
8%
x $25/$100 $
Family Video
12%
x $10 = $
REI
8%
x $25 = $
Fannie May
25%
x $10 = $
Radio Shack
4%
x $25 = $
Fashion Bug
6%
x $25 = $
Rocky Mountain Chocolate
11%
x $10 = $
$
Footlocker Stores/Lady Foo
9%
x $25 = $
Sally Beauty Supply
12%
x $25 = $
$
GNC
8%
x $25 = $
Sam's Club (Wal-Mart) 2%
x $25 = $
$
Game Stop
3%
x $25 = $
8%
x $25 = $
x $25 = $
Sears
4%
x $25/$100 $
Golfsmith
8%
x $25 = $
Sephora
4%
x $20 = $
Great Clips
8%
x $25 = $
Shoe Carnival
5%
x $25 = $
Sports Authority
8%
5%
x $25 = $
Hallmark
4%
x $25 = $
Additional Retailers
$
x $100 = $
14%
H&M
x $15 = $
4%
2%
Gap
5%
12%
Disney
Gander Mountain
x $10 = $
x $25 = $
Office Depot
Dick's Sporting Goods
Family Christian Stores
4%
7%
x $250 = $
x $25 = $
Column Total $
Organize your gift cards with…
Cascading Card File
25%
Column Total $
Questions? Contact Susan Leader
PAGE 2 of 2
Participating retailers and discounts are subject to change. Visit www.glscrip.com for a complete list.
x $2.96 = $
December 2011
5 Kislev ~ 5 Tevet 5772
The Scribe
Temple B'nai Israel
HANUKKAH
December 21—28
From the desk of Rabbi Mann:
Hanukkah:
“Just Do It!”
- Against All
Odds
There are two customs with respect to
the lighting of Hanukkah candles. One recommends lighting
one Menorah or Hanukkiah for an entire
household. The other prefers that each
household member light his/her own Hanukkiah. This latter method is the one
recommended by most authorities which
Ashkenazic Jewry follows. This is called
by the Talmud “mehadrin min hamehadrin” i.e. those who are most meticulous
in observing the commandments. Using
one Hanukkiah for an entire household is
called “mehadrin” i.e. (just) meticulous.
The original and most basic method acceptable (according to the Talmud) is that
each person light (only) one candle (not a
Hanukkiah). (Sounds a bit confusing, but
that is the evolution of the custom of
lighting Hanukkah candles.)
The question arises: Why with respect
to this Mitzvah in particular did the Jewish community adopt the most meticulous
mode of observance? We do not encounter
At A Glance...
this evolution of the most strict custom
prevailing in any other Mitzvah.
Commentators suggest that since the
entire story of Hanukkah revolves around
“mehadrin” – meticulousness, it is appropriate that the Jewish people observed
this holiday’s central ritual in a
“meticulous” fashion. The entire enterprise of the Maccabean revolt involved
great and abundant faith against all odds.
Their courage was rewarded with miraculous victory against a patently more powerful foe. Moreover, the miracle of the oil
was ostensibly gratuitous. Wouldn’t the
miracle of the victory itself be adequate
grounds for declaring a Holiday?
The miracle of the oil was a divine seal
of approval, if you will, that the Maccabean revolt was undertaken justifiably.
Although logic would have dictated that
they not undertake such a risky endeavor,
G-d approved and supported their faith
and courage.
Although it is not always the case
(sometimes prudence ought to trump
faith), in this case, “Just Do It! – Against
All Odds” was the correct course.
To indicate this, our Tradition insisted
that we, too, observe the central ritual of
the season in a most meticulous manner.
The ritual mirrors history.
RABBI MANN
RUMMAGE SALE
I would like to thank everyone for helping with the Fall Rummage Sale and for all of the
generous donations. Sisterhood would not be able to do this without our helpers: Bob
Arundale, David Davis, Candy Goldstein, Judy Jacobson, Andrea Kleppe, Anna Kurtzman, DJ Kurtzman, Rhoda Melnicoff, Noussy Nathan, Barbara Peskind, Barbara Pielet,
Esther Pollock, Cyndy Raymond, Elaine Raymond, Sarene Rosen, Patricia Rosenmann,
Richele Volkmar, Sandy Wolf
If I forgot anyone, thank you too! Looking forward to our Spring sale. - Elissa Davis
Sisterhood Shabbat
Dinner
Dec 9
School Panel Discussion: Dec 11
December Dilemma
Focus Group to discuss
Friday Night Services
Dec 16
Temple Hanukkah Party
Dec 18
Hadassah Pot Luck
Dec 20
School Service Project
Jan 15
School Conferences &
Family Lunch
Jan 29
Let us do the work…
Order gift cards through
the Scrip Program for
teachers, mailman,
milkman, a special
neighbor or to treat
yourself this December!
Deadlines:
• Latke orders: December 4
• Scrip orders: December 11
Shabbat Services:
Friday evenings
8 pm Dec 2
6:30 pm Dec 9 (special time)
7 pm Dec 16, 23, 30
Saturday mornings
9 am Traditional
10:30 am Dec 10—Egalitarian
10:30 am Dec 17—Renewal
Todah Rabbah, Thank you.
We gratefully acknowledge the following donations.
BOARD OF EDUCATION
Lou Camras income from TBI Café
Cathy Cohen
- in memory of Sally Kurlander
Hanan & Esther Javetz
- in honor of Nathan Rosenmann’s
Bar Mitzvah
GENERAL
Aurora Junior Woman’s Club
- in appreciation of lecture by David
Leader on depression
Shirley Gersh
- in memory of Sidney Gersh
Doug & Carol Large
- in memory of Doris Eisenson
David & Susan Leader
- in honor of the birth of David Sweet
Dale Liebes
- in memory of Sam & Glenda Faren
Dina & Yona Lunken
- Thank you for the wonderful Rosh
Hashanah Services and the inclusion
of my family in so many ways.
Ethan & Laura Mendelsohn-Cooke
- in memory of Daniel Mendelsohn
Harry & Deborah Morgenstern
- in memory of Harry Fredman
Barbara Pielet
- in memory of Syd Fleischman
Dan & Cyndy Raymond
- in memory of Eudice Raymond
- in memory of Estelle Finkelstein
Gary & Elaine Raymond
- in memory of Eudice Raymond
- in memory of Estelle Finkelstein
- in honor of Adina Mann’s birthday
- in honor of Erin Mann’s birthday
Daniel & Patricia Rosenmann
- in honor of the birth of Hadley Young
Art & Barbara Sheridan (Renewal Exp)
- in memory of Larry Pozdol
Abe Steinberg & Candy Goldstein
- in honor of Adina Mann’s birthday
PODOLSKY LIBRARY
Howard Smukler
- in memory of mother, father, brother

In Appreciation of
HIGH HOLIDAY HONORS/ALIYOT
David Degen
Doug & Carol Large
Harry Morgenstern
Daniel & Patricia Rosenmann
Lothar & Eva Rosenmann
December 2011 ~ The Scribe

In loving memory of
EUGENE RAYMOND
father of Gary Raymond
father of Dan Raymond
Ed Bart & Maddy Liss-Bart
Loraine Green
Norman Kelewitz
Doug & Carol Large
Mark & Rhoda Melnicoff
Barbara Pielet
Gary & Elaine Raymond
Sarene Rosen
Daniel & Patricia Rosenmann
David & Frances Rosenshein
Fay Stern/ Esjay Foundation
In loving memory of
RUTH PIELET
Bruce & Margot Goldsmith
David & Susan Leader
ONEG SPONSORS
DECEMBER 2 Cary & Jane Manzano
-Nicol in honor of Julia Manzano’s
birthday
DECEMBER 9 Dan & Cyndy Raymond in honor of their anniversary
DECEMBER 16 Richele Volkmar in
honor of Hillary Leathem’s birthday
Time to reserve a special date to host
an Oneg in honor or memory of that
special someone.
Contact Beryl Mann
or the office at (630) 892-2450 to sponsor an Oneg for your special occasion.
Thank you to our families
for answering the call…
FAIR SHARE 2011/5772 DRIVE
SUPPORTING MEMBER
Anonymous
SUSTAINING MEMBER
Sherry Eagle in memory of Howard Eagle
Hanan & Esther Javetz in honor of their 39th anniversary
Edith Katz in memory of Marvin Katz
Robert & Nancy Protter
Roy & Nora Rubinstein
CONGREGATION INVESTOR
Anonymous
Hon. Edmund P. & Dr. Madeline Liss– Bart
Myron & Rosalind Whisler
Michael J Young & Sandra A Wolf
CONGREGATION BENEFACTOR
Richard & Ruth Edelman
Norman Kelewitz
Sarene Rosen in memory of Sherman Rosen
TEMPLE GUARDIAN
Mark & Rhoda Melnicoff in honor of son Myles who is
preparing to serve his country in Afghanistan
Steven & Marcia Rayman
Jeffrey Ratzer
Abe Steinberg & Candice Goldstein
Page 2
Temple B’nai Israel’s Message from the President
Dear Friends,
Susan and I hope that you had
a wonderful Thanksgiving. When
reading the synopsis of the Moment Magazine article about the
controversy in Traditional areas of
New York about keeping schools
open and providing bus service on
Thanksgiving, I once again was
reminded of the blessings of how
well our congregants work together
to find appropriate ways to allow
all of us to meet our specific needs,
and of our increasingly positive
presence in Tikkun Olam for the
greater community! By now, the
TBI-sponsored community lecture
held at Etz Chaim as well as the
Interfaith Community Thanksgiving celebration of diversity at
Prisco Center in Aurora have come
and gone, and it is my hope and
expectation that these both were
well attended and meaningful experiences for you.
As I wrap up the final months of
my Presidency, there are still areas
that need considerable attention,
and I would wish to highlight them
for you here. Multiple of our committees have become less active (it
is difficult for a small organization
that is largely dependent on volunteer efforts to sustain its enthusiasm and meet all of the varied
needs of a community). The Board
of Directors has agreed to a Board
retreat on December 11, where we
will charge ourselves with the most
crucial task of looking at a number
of things. These include our committee structure and function, our
need for stepped up Board activity
and even our Board composition
and size. Since your feedback is so
important in this and all other
functions of the Temple, I would
ask any congregants with suggestions and feedback to contact me
or any of the Board members with
this vital information, so that your
thoughts will be captured in our
conversations.
The first Focus Group for the
Friday Evening Services will occur
on December 16, after an abbreviated service. We will be considering
December 2011 ~ The Scribe
all concerns and ideas of those
who regularly participate, as well
as those who have begun to participate less regularly and those
who have stopped participating
and would return to these services
should their religious/spiritual
needs be more fully met. One of
the things that we will we considering is the possible replacement of
our prayer book, with one that is
more contemporary in nature.
Rabbi Mann has helped us enormously by evaluating all available
books, and brought us a copy of
Mishkan T’filah as one option. I
will leave the copy in the Office, so
that any of you who wish to preview it (AT THE TEMPLE-- please
do not remove it from the building)
may do so prior to the focus group.
I anticipate that a similar process
will be occurring soon for the
Egalitarian Services which are being reinstated, now that the Holiday season has slowed down to
allow us some times to meet!
An outgrowth of the work of the
joint meetings between Strategic
Planning and Religious Committee
has been the near-completion of a
short survey which will be available soon. Thanks to Gary Raymond once again for all of his time
and technical expertise in this endeavor. The survey is planned to be
sent to you via a Survey Monkey
link for all of you who have supplied us with e-mail addresses, and
via paper copy to those who have
not. It is imperative to the planning
of next year’s services that we receive your candid feedback-- it is
our aim to always be cognizant of
our mission to serve the diversity
within our community with religious, social and educational programming which honors this diversity.
I am almost embarrassed to
state that a Member Directory is to
be coming out, much (much) later
than anticipated. You have all been
very kind to me, in not reminding
me that an Annual Directory, by
definition, comes out once yearly.
We have been approached by a
company called LifeTouch, which
will potentially allow us to take our
directory to an electronic format
while preserving our paper one,
without cost to the Temple. Pictures taken by this company may
be uploaded by members for a $10
cost, and all members posing will
receive one free picture. More details to follow…
On behalf of the Board of Directors and Trustees, I send our
wishes for a Chag Hanukkah
sameach! Remember to look at
each of the special events that are
upcoming, including a Sisterhood
dinner on December 9, and a
jointly sponsored party (by Sisterhood and the Board of Education)
on December 18 with the ChickenFat Klezmer Orchestra! Speaking of
the Sisterhood, please be sure to
thank them profusely for all of
their amazing contributions to the
Temple over the past few years,
including the new professional
stove (which is pumping out latkes
with amazing frequency-- do not
forget your latke orders), the generous financial contributions to our
Operating Fund and the ongoing
assistance with the very costly repairs to our older heating system
(with replacement of two pumps
and one tank): feel the warmth of
their support as you feel the restored warmth to our library and
school wing!
One last note: a subcommittee
is forming in order to begin the
planning for the 50th anniversary
season of our building. The current
plan is for at least monthly events,
with something for everyone, from
informal picnics to ???, and culminating with a gala dinner. If you
are interested in submitting your
ideas, or potentially serving on the
subcommittee,
please
advise
Tamara, who will collect this information and pass it along!
Thanks for all that you are and
all that you do!
Sincerely,
David Leader
Page 3
CLASS WITH RABBI
MANN
Join Rabbi Mann
THURSDAY evenings from
7:00 pm—8:00 pm
Hebrew Newspapers &
Current Events
December 7 at AURORA UNIVERSITY
“EMMA LAZARUS AND US’ presented by Aurora University faculty on Wednesday, December 7 at 3:30 pm in
the Crimi Auditorium in the Institute for Collaboration.
If you can’t make this presentation, check out the exhibition “Emma Lazarus: Voice of Liberty, Voice of Conscience”
chronicles the life of Emma Lazarus (1849-1897), a fourthgeneration American from a prominent Jewish family in
New York City. at Aurora University runs through December 16, 2011 at the Institute for Collaboration.
TEMPLE B’NAI ISRAEL MAILBOX
Dear Congregation,
On behalf of the entire Raymond family, thank you so much for your condolences, your letters, your phone
calls, your donations, and your participation at our father's funeral and shiva visitations. Part of what makes
our congregation so special is that we have so many caring families and individuals who come together to console and support those in need. On the Tuesday of our father's burial, our family could not imagine how we
would have the strength to make it through that day. But your presence at the worship services, thoughtfully
led by Rabbi Mann, and words of encouragement helped make it possible for us to honor our father's memory
and carry on. We are very grateful to have you as friends.
Gary, Dan, and Phil
To my TBI extended family!
Thank you so much for the affection and support I have
been receiving from you for the last 12 years, and particularly
during the last one, as I was preparing for my Bar Mitzvah. It
was so meaningful to see a full house, with all of you, literally, behind me, as I was called to read the Torah. Also, thank
you so much for the generous Congregational gift.
I would like to share with you that my first act as a responsible adult (after recovering and sleeping for over 12
hours, no sedation required) was to personally deliver over
200 lbs of food to two institutions: The Aurora Interfaith
Food Pantry and Loaves and Fishes Community Pantry
that my family and I donated in lieu of traditional Bimah flowers and floral centerpieces that you saw on the Kiddush/
luncheon tables.
Nathan D. Rosenmann
Dear Rabbi Mann,
I am one of the visitors from Naperville Central High School who came to your service last night and I would
like to thank you so much for allowing me this opportunity! It was a very interesting and educational experience. I enjoyed seeing things from a different perspective and learning more about Judaism. Your service was
very welcoming and open to your visitors. I appreciate the extra time you spent with us after the service. Thank
you for sharing your vast knowledge with us. Thanks again!
December 2011 ~ The Scribe
Page 4
What’s Happening in Religious School
Season of Miracles
December has come, and with it our annual national holiday frenzy. It’s not the easiest time to be a Jewish parent. We are bombarded with advertisements and articles, gifts, gaiety, good will and guilt. As we order
our latkes and wrap presents for our children, it is not particularly difficult to see the parallels between our
time and the age of the Maccabees. Under Assyrian rule, a new culture had been introduced to Judea. Hellenism was the rage, and there was plenty about it that looked attractive. Greek culture flowed into the land
with a force as undeniable as the Jordan River. Jews and Greeks worked side by side, learned each other’s
songs, and witnessed each other’s festivals. If Antiochus hadn’t been greedy and demanded that the Jews
abandon their faith for his, who knows how long Judeans and Assyrians could have coexisted in peace? The
comingling of cultures could have enriched both, while each maintained its integrity. Or, one people could
have absorbed the other, the less enticing philosophy subsumed by more popular norms.
We light our candles and talk about the miracle of the oil. We sing about the Maccabees and commemorate the miracle of the few overcoming the many. In fact, we are the ones called upon to create a miracle at
this season of the year. We are the few among the many. We share our communities—and sometimes our
households—with people whose fundamental view of life differs from ours. We respect them. We love them.
And we are not them. In a world scented with pine and festooned with holly, we know this celebration is not
ours. No Santa, no stockings, no choirs singing lullabies to a two thousand-year-old baby. We are by definition outside the crush that is Christmas. How do we show our children that we can appreciate others’ customs without adopting their beliefs?
First, we can embrace our own traditions with enthusiasm. Hanukkah is not a Christmas substitute any
more than Christmas is Hanukkah one-upmanship. Then, we can have our own Hanukkah get-together and
make it the best party ever! If you aren’t up to giving your own bash, find someone else’s party and go.
Come to the Temple B’nai Israel Religious School Hanukkah Party on Sunday, December 18 at 12
Noon. The Sisterhood has generously provided the ChickenFat Klezmer Band to entertain and we’ll kick
off the festivities with the First Annual Latke Eating Contest. (Prizes are awarded for style, not quantity,
and wagering is encouraged.)
Second, we can reach out to our community. We can invite our non-Jewish friends over to eat latkes and
spin dreydels with abandon. We can share our traditions without making odious comparisons. We can be
good neighbors on Christmas. The Social Action Committee plans to help direct traffic during Aurora’s
Christmas Eve tour of Phillips Park. Any of us can volunteer to serve meals to the homeless on Christmas
Day or give to the many toy and food drives the season offers. We can offer to fill in for others at work to give
our friends time to celebrate with their families.
Finally, we can recognize that there is a difference between customs and dogma. It’s okay to help your
friend decorate a Christmas tree. It is all right to bake cookies shaped like evergreens and sleighs for your
Gentile teacher. You can even say, ‘Merry Christmas’ just as your Christian friends may have wished you a
Happy New Year a few months ago. At the same time, we must remember that there is more to a holiday
than food and presents. Christmas celebrates the birth of someone Christians believe is the Messiah. We respect Christian beliefs, but we do not share them. Chanukah celebrates the rededication of the Temple and
the recovery of our people’s right to worship according to what we perceive as G-d’s Law. If we learn everything we can about our own faith, our celebrations will have real meaning for us. Children need to know why
we celebrate right from the start, and how just how much we do and do not share. A community where we
all respect each other’s traditions while feeling secure in our own would be a great place to live. And it doesn’t have to take a miracle to get there.
Kitty Hall
UPCOMING EVENTS:
December 11 Panel Discussion: December Dilemma
December 18 Hanukkah Party, Noon with ChickenFat Klezmer Band (co-sponsored with Sisterhood)
December 21-January 4
No School for Winter Break
December 2011 ~ The Scribe
Page 5
TBI Social Action Update….
PLEASE HELP WITH THE AURORA ROTARY CLUB’S “FESTIVAL OF LIGHTS” - XMAS EVE
Come join TBI in a “most Jewish” type of activity - working Xmas Eve! This is a “drive-thru” format
where the public is invited to drive past and view the various holiday light displays. At the end of the
displays volunteers are stationed with collection buckets and small tokens of appreciation for drivers
who make donations. The moneys collected are distributed to local charities.
This event actually kicks off the week after Thanksgiving and runs through the week of Xmas. Rotarians staff the showing and collect donations. But, as one might expect, they have difficulty finding
people for Xmas Eve. Enter TBI, which was informally contacted about this. After some discussion
with committee and BOD members, TBI has committed to provide the necessary volunteers for
Xmas Eve. What better way to build good community relations than to relieve our gentile charity
worker neighbors so they can be with their families on Xmas Eve?
The time window is from 5:00 pm - 10:00 pm, Saturday, December 24, and the event is located at
Phillips Park at the intersection of Hill St and Montgomery Rd in Aurora. We will act as the donation
collectors. One member from Rotary will be on hand to pack up and account for the moneys that
we collect that evening. It was noted that Xmas Eve is one of the busier days for viewing this display.
There is a warming shelter in the vicinity of the collections, so no one will be asked to stand outside
on a cold night for hours! The more volunteers we have, the less time any one person will need to
spend helping out. PLEASE consider participating! (It is requested that parents accompany their
children if they are participating.) If you plan to participate, please contact either Tamara at the
Temple or myself
If you have a preferred timeslot, please let us know.
More details (timeslots, maps, etc) will be provided to participants as the day approaches.
STILL LOOKING FOR VOLUNTEERS FOR THE INTERFAITH FOOD PANTRY AND MUTUAL
GROUND
See last month’s Scribe for details. We’ve gotten one volunteer thus far. Hopefully TBI can improve on that. (Those of you who came to listen to Ryan Dowd of Hesed House on November 6
should be inspired. I heard he was an excellent speaker!) Please give this some thought and contact Mark Melnicoff to participate.
TBI FOOD DRIVE FOR THE INTERFAITH FOOD PANTRY
We are just about ready to send our second box of food to the Interfaith Food Pantry. This is great!
Keep the food packages coming! Again, sundries and personal care products are also welcome.
Mark Melnicoff – Social Action Committee Chair
December 2011 ~ The Scribe
Page 6
SISTERHOOD NEWS AND EVENTS...
I first want to thank all of you for helping us to make $658.07 at our Fall Rummage Sale. I hope that in
the Spring we will be able to top that amount as the money we are making will go to the Temple to help with
expenses. Thank you Elissa Davis for heading up the Rummage Sale!
Have you signed up for the Shabbat Dinner, which is on Friday, December 9th? Where can you go and
get a good meal for $6 a person or $20 for a family. Services will be at 6:30 and dinner will follow....hope to
see you there!!!
Don't forget to mark your calendars for Sunday, December 18th at NOON, for the Temple Chanuka
Party...we will be having the ChickenFat Klezmer Band to help us celebrate. This will be a fun afternoon for
the whole family! If you would like to help please call either Kitty or myself.
Tuesday, December 20th at 6:15 will be our annual Sisterhood/Hadassah Chanukah Party. This year
we will be going Rhoda Melnicoff's, 65 Finch Court--Naperville for a dairy/parve potluck. Please call Rhoda
and let her know what dish you will be bringing. We are asking that you bring a new or
gently used bra which we will be giving to Mutual Ground.
Happy Hanukkah from our home to yours....
- Cyndy Raymond, Sisterhood President
HADASSAH NEWS
LIFE MEMBERSHIP—A bargain at
$100 until December 31, 2011.
HADASSAH ASSOCIATES—For the
men in your life—$100 until December 31, 2011.
Be proud to be a life-time member of
Hadassah, the Women’s Zionist Organization of American.
Call Edith Katz
to
sign up!
RECYCLE
INK CARTRIDGES
FOR EDUCATION
Bring in those empty ink cartridges to
the Temple (in the office collection
box) and help a local low income
school raise money.
SPERTUS EVENTS
Visit Spertus at www.spertus.edu
or call 312.322.1773 for a listing of
the wonderful events that Spertus
has planned in the near future .
Follow Spertus on Twitter!
Become a fan of Spertus on Facebook
December 2011 ~ The Scribe
MEN’s CLUB
Interested in a Men’s Club for Temple B’nai Israel?
There has been talk, but now it is time to put that into action...Contact DJ Kurtzman
or Dan Raymond
to voice your opinion.
Do you shop at:
OFFICE DEPOT?
Give the cashier both of these numbers to have a % of your sale
come back to Temple B’nai Israel:
5% TO SCHOOL PROGRAM ~ 70209281
WORKLIFE REWARDS ~ 1115730093
If you forget your numbers...Office Depot can look up Temple
B’nai Israel and apply these numbers for percentage.
JEWEL / OSCO, PRISCO’s, WOODMAN’s, or
DOMINICK’s?
Plan ahead and purchase store certificates through Temple B’nai
Israel before you shop. You give TBI $25 and receive a $25 gift
card in return, BUT TBI earns a % on that transaction.
Contact the Temple office to purchase these cards. Additional gift
cards are available monthly. Check out the bottom of the main page at
www.temple-bnai-israel.org for order forms through our SCRIP PROGRAM.
Page 7
Upcoming Birthdays &
Anniversaries
December 01
December 02
December 03
Terry Luther
David Peskind
Joshua Kowalski
December 08
Jeffrey Ratzer
Edward Russell
Gwyneth Wiseman
December 09
Julia Manzano
December 17
Myron & Rosalind Whisler
December 21
Bruce Goldsmith
Micah Kurtzman
Patricia Rosenmann
Derek Kowalski
David & Susan Leader
Edith Katz
Douglas Large
Erin DiSilvestro
Ken & Blanche Sheinkopf
Craig & Susan Carson
December 22
December 25
December 27
December 31
Simchas & Such
Mazel tov to David & Susan Leader on the addition of
MAGGIE, their new puppy.
Well Wishes go out to...
We hope that everyone has a healthy December. It is wonderful when this section is empty!
Opportunities to help others...
FOOD DRIVE—our year-round campaign to
help
A drive to collect non-perishable food items and
toiletries will take place, year-round, in the entry way of Temple B’nai Israel. Donations can be
dropped off in the box and will taken to a local
facility to help those in need.
Scrip Update...
Help support Temple B’nai Israel…
AD RATES
It costs you nothing!!
Last chance to do that holiday shopping...Save yourself the gas...And the time!
Thank you to all of the congregants and
friends for ordering through our
SCRIP PROGRAM.
Advertising in the Scribe is now easy and affordable. Our ad
sizes are business card, ¼ page, ½ page and full page. The
Scribe reaches about 150 households each month, plus countless more that read it online at our website. If you, or someone
you know, has an interest in placing an ad in our Scribe, please
contact Tamara Scott at the Temple office, 630/892-2450. Payment and a .pdf of your ad must be received in the office before
the 15th of the previous month that you would like to start your
advertising with us.
ADS IN SCRIBE
Deadline: Sunday, DECEMBER 11!
For info call Susan Leader,
- Did you know that Woodman’s now takes
gift cards for gas?
December 2011 ~ The Scribe
Business Card
1
month
$25
6
months
$100
12
months
$150
1/4 page of 8 1/2" x 11"
$50
$175
$325
1/2 page of 8 1/2" x 11"
$75
$375
$600
Full page of 8 1/2" x 11"
$125
$600
$1000
Page 8
Yahrzeit
“The memory of the righteous shall be for a blessing.”
DECEMBER
December
December
December
December
December
2
4
6
7
8
December 9
December 11
December 12
December 13
December 14
December 16
December 17
December 19
December 20
December
December
December
December
23
24
26
27
December 29
December 30
December 31
(according to the secular calendar)
Elliott Hose, father of Blanche Sheinkopf
Edna 'Skom' Scopes
Harry Cohn, grandfather of Judi Glazer
Louis Schneiderman, grandfather of Mitchell Cohen
Irwin Lisberg, husband of Esther Lisberg Friedman
Stan Sokolik, father of Sande Arundale
Albert Gersh, father of Henry Gersh
Ida Fagel, mother of Shirley Fagel
Florence Farone, mother of Lois Abramowitz
Shirley Harris, mother of Cathy Cohen
Toby Rubin
Boris Spector, grandfather of Raphael Podolsky
Roy Anderson, father of Ruth Edelman
Jerome Gordon, father of Sandy Ruksakiati
Shirley Zabelin, mother of Don Zabelin
Julius Zidell, father of Bella Zidell
Benjamin Peskind, son of Steve & Susan Peskind
and grandson of Barbara Peskind
Samuel Butcher, father of Judy Jacobson
Violet David, mother of Mel David
Dorothea Yellin
Chuck Prussian, father of Wendy Hirsch
Ernst Bruch, husband of Else Bruch
Janet Gordon, mother of Sandy Ruksakiati
Bess Foosaner, mother of Sarene Rosen
Dora Greenholtz, mother of Sylvia Nemenoff
Masha Yellin, grandmother of Larry Yellin
Edith Fierstein, mother of Elissa Davis
Maurice Foosaner, father of Sarene Rosen
Maurice Holtzman, grandfather of Bruce Goldsmith
Agusta Zimmerman, grandmother of DJ Kurtzman
Dora Stone, grandmother of Susan Carson
Lena Goldman, mother of Phyllis Adelman
Samuel Pielet, father of Simon Pielet
In Memoriam: RUTH PIELET
Our deepest sympathies go out to the family and friends of former long-time member on the passing of RUTH PIELET in
Florida on October 31. Ruth and her late husband, Shelby, were active members of Temple B’nai Israel for many years
and she will be missed by many.
Our condolences go out to Ed Bart and Maddy Liss-Bart and their family on the recent passing of Ed’s sister and
brother-in-law in a plane crash.
In the ancient words of the traditional Jewish prayer of consolation: “May the L-rd console and sustain you among the
other mourners for Zion and Jerusalem.” AMEN.
December 2011 ~ The Scribe
Page 9
TEMPLE MARKETPLACE
YOUR AD COULD
BE HERE!
Subscription Policy for the Scribe
EXECUTIVE BOARD of DIRECTORS
The Scribe is sent to all Temple members free of charge.
Nonmembers may receive the Scribe for a $10 per year
subscription fee (either by mail or e-mail). The Scribe is sent
free to former Aurora area seniors who have moved away
and still wish to receive it.
For 2011-2012
If you wish to continue to receive the Scribe and do not meet
any of these requirements, please mail your request and
address, or e-mail address, (with a check for $10) to:
Temple B'nai Israel
400 North Edgelawn Drive
Aurora, IL 60506-4394
(off on Monday)
10 am—Noon
Routine messages:
Please call the Office to leave a message at 630/892-2450.
E-mail messages are not Rabbi's preferred method of contact.
Emergency/non-routine messages:
Call Rabbi at home
If he is not available,
please leave Rabbi a message, and contact the President,
David Leader, or any Executive Committee Member, using
the numbers in your directory, to ensure prompt action!
Temple Office Hours ~ 630/892-2450
Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday
Thursday
Friday
8:30 am—12:00 pm
8:30 am—1:30 pm
8:30 am—1:30 pm
8:30 am—1:30 pm
9:00 am—12:00 pm
Please call to verify hours. Calls are not answered or returned from Noon on Friday until Monday morning.
Temple B’nai Israel
To reach Rabbi Mann at times other than office hours:
400 North Edgelawn Dr.
Aurora, Illinois 60506-4394
Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday & Friday
Religious School Director Kitty Hall
www.temple-bnai-israel.org
Rabbi Mann’s Hours
President
David Leader
1st Vice-President
Bruce Goldsmith
2nd Vice-President Gary Raymond
3rd Vice-President Steve Peskind
Recording Secretary Mark Melnicoff
Treasurer
Steve Cohen
Financial Secretary Phillip Jacobson
Ex-Officio
Judy Jacobson